Elizabeth Berry v. Jerry Keeton
Published: Jun. 2, 2004 | Result Date: Dec. 1, 2003 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: NC031449 Verdict – $4,145,570
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Long Beach
Attorneys
Plaintiff
C. Michael Alder
(AlderLaw PC)
Defendant
Juan C. Delgado
(Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
Jan Roughan R.N.
(medical)
Michel F. Brones
(medical)
Lawrence Miller M.D.
(medical)
Defendant
Daniel Bonelli
(technical)
Facts
On Feb. 2, 2001, the 52-year-old plaintiff's apartment unit in Long Beach caught fire while she was sleeping in her bedroom. The origin of the fire was determined to be the living room, and the cause of the fire was undetermined. The plaintiff sustained third degree burns over 19 percent of her body and smoke inhalation causing cardiac arrest and some brain damage. Neither smoke detector in the unit went off. The plaintiff did not testify at trial.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a C.C.P. Section 998 demand of $300,000 policy limits. The defendant did not respond. The defendant offered $300,000 during jury deliberation.
Specials in Evidence
$135,000 $2.7 million
Injuries
3rd degree burns over 19 percent of the plaintiff's body; smoke inhalation causing cardiac arrest and some brain damage.
Result
$3,712,452 verdict plus $433,119 in interest
Deliberation
1.5 hours
Poll
12-0
Length
seven days
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